Reviews from When Saturday Comes. Follow the link to buy the book from Amazon.
Despite a successful season, not everyone is impressed with Sunderland. Joe Boyle looks at how the club has reacted to accusations of racism in the stands
Perhaps Sunderland have had it a bit too good recently: top of the league by miles, a cup semi-final, a media-friendly boss, a superb, packed stadium and a favourable press.
Cris Freddi's examination of cheque book blunders continues our series looking at the worst of football in the 20th century
Might as well get Stan out of the way: he was always going to feature here. At the time, it was hard to know how an individualist like that was going to fit into a passing team like Liverpool, and he didn’t really – you can say that despite a crashing goal on his debut and 26 in 81 league games. At Villa, of course, he’s simply been an embarrassment. “It was a surprise to me when he [Brian Little] signed Collymore. It was a shock given the problems he’d faced at Anfield and the problems he was having off the field.” (John Gregory, February 1999). Hard to think of £15.5 million worse spent. Even Paul Stewart’s various moves can’t compare.
They may be rushing the exits at Loftus Road thse days but, as Anthony Hobbs explains, at least they're doing it in comfort thanks to an enigmatic stroller
Littered around the country are grounds and bits of grounds bearing the name of a local hero. Preston have even put a picture of theirs on the seats in case you forget who he is. What fine tributes these are to the skills of past masters, lovingly constructed to ensure that the memory of a great player lives on long after he has gone.
How one man attempted to bring his club down to flames, literally. Andrew Spiers and Ray Gilbert report
Ken Richardson, ex-benefactor (his choice of word) of Doncaster Rovers, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson by a unanimous verdict at Sheffield County Court in the last week of January. Judge Peter Baker said Richardson could expect a custodial sentence and he was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing. Sentencing was delayed as his barrister was ill.
Cyril the Swan falls for the dark side of the media as AS Thomas reports
I know a young boy who is paralysed from the neck down after a horrific road accident. He currently resides at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital and is a Swans fanatic. In fact the local press recently had pictures of him being visited by some of the players and the now-famous mascot, Cyril the Swan. At the time he was promised by the club that should he want Cyril to come up for his birthday, then it would be arranged.